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Being involved with teams in the lower Divisions for a few years now, it's hard to get a game moved between teams most of the time because most teams think you are missing players etc and want to get a perceived advantage. I think the County Board should look at this and stagger start times of certain games that draw an interest to the neutrals. It couldn't be that hard? 

Yeah I seen him heading up the 'hill' before throw in with his kitbag and sticks. Couldn't blame him if he did walk away. Player parachuted into team after a weeks training would do that to a man.

The players that are on the panel are there as they want to be there and are committed. I know Conal Cunning and Keelan Molloy were asked on board and couldn't commit and with Shorty retiring as well, that is 3 players the senior management would definitely have on the panel in my opinion. I have been told by a panelist, that Cushendall have 7 on the panel and Dunloy have 6. So not a big difference on numbers.

As for the Championship this year, Dunloy are clear favourites and that's coming from a dall man.

Looking at the team on Facebook, so many players seemed jettisoned in. As far as I can make out, only 8 senior panelists stripped out today.

Seems very shoddy.

I know we play Dublin tomorrow and maybe that's why the team went out the way it did, but Dublin played Tipperary today and some of their big hitters were playing today and will play tomorrow.

Surely we could of put out more senior panelists or used more U21 panelists (I think 3-4 were involved today)

The county secretary mentioned in his address at convention that he hoped age groups would change in line with county age groups. He hoped this conversation would take place and be decided on in early January. So all club delegates would if heard or read that plus the convention booklets were out on Antrim gaa website to be downloaded. So info was put out so it shouldn't be a shock really

Any word on any new management teams in Div 3/4?

Folks, if a player transferred from an Antrim club to a club in England, can he transfer back when university finishes to his club in Antrim and be eligible for Antrim Championship?

Any word on the make up of the Antrim panel for this year? Any new faces or any players making a comeback??

Any players not committing this year???

Any thoughts on the championship fixtures this weekend. For my money:

Junior Championship

Lamh Dhearg v St Teresa's - Lamh Dhearg by 6
Cushendun v Glenarm - Cushendun by 8

Intermediate Championship

Glenariffe v St Enda's - Glenariffe by 3
Randalstown v Cloughmills - Cloughmills by 5

Senior Championship

Rossa v St John's - Rossa by 9
Loughgall v St Galls - loughgiel by 12
Cushendall v Creggan - Cushendall by 7
Dunloy v Ballycastle - Ballycastle by 1

I think we need a manager who has pedigree and good standing/reputation in Antrim.

For my money, i would go for Shane Elliott from Dunloy. He has played for Antrim and is doing wonders I'm Dunloy with their underage teams. I would let him pick his backroom team, but help him with the financial backing to get the appropriate strength and conditioning etc for the panel.

Also we need the players and the club's to commit to the county this year coming and we need joined up thinking between county senior, u21 and minor teams and club senior and minor teams.

Let's try to get this thing going again and try to get some pride and passion back in the county teams, this includes,  County board, players, clubs and fans!!

L

Cushendall were missing 7 starters from All Ireland campaign, Eoin Gillan, Ryan Mccambridge, Martin Burke, Aaron Graffin, Shane McNaughton, Neil McManus and Donal McNaughton, with only Gillan, Burke and McCambridge to come back in. Neil, Shane and Aaron are travelling and Donal has retired.

It's good to see the likes of Joe McCurry, Eoin McManus, Fergus McCambridge, Emmet Laverty, Ryan Delargy, Alex Delargy and Cormac McAlister getting plenty of senior game time over the last 2 years which will only make our squad stronger in the long run.

Just home from Glenariffe v Clooney Gaels match in Div 2. Good game of hurling, some nice scores taken, but it all kicked off at the full time whistle. Pure 40 man brawl, with players, mentors, subs and suspended players all in fighting. People hit with hurls, punched etc. Was not a great advert for hurling.

Just heard that the U21 Championship match between Ruairi Og and McQuillans is off tonight. Ballycastle have been trying to get it moved for over a week now, with the reason being that players were working away from home.

It's a joke when a championship can't start on time and players from Cushendall have prepared well for this game and now it's off.

Sometimes you have to ask yourself what's the point!!!